Thursday, January 5, 2012

There's a posh and glamorous side of USA and almost all advanced countries that we all know which is primarily represented by tall sky scrapers, dense down towns, branded shops, celebrity homes, big corporate offices, high tech and advanced commutation services like well connected roads and rail networks and of course expensive standard of living. Life in such cities is fast and furious, complex and tensed, keeps you always on toes.

Everyone is struggling in life daily and chasing their dreams in so called paradise. No one is at peace, there is no contentment in life, people are more prone to diseases and health issues, they crib about tonnes of things every day, fight with the notorious politics of the surroundings and environment they live in. Quality of life is absolutely trashed no matter one has everything needed to live a comfortable and luxurious life but it still lacks the quality that comes with simplicity and untangled lifestyle.

Then there is another side of the life, the Country side, where every one lives at peace, manages daily chores with less worries and live a way better and healthier life as compared to people like us who are stuck in the hustle bustle of metropolitan lifestyle. Agreed that they don't get all those worldly pleasures and comforts that people living in metros get but they get what is needed by every man every day in life, contentment and satisfaction.

They might live in torn and broken houses, may struggle on day to day basis for many things but still they live a peaceful life, a life with family and friends near and dear to each other.

I started my new year by spending my first 2 days in such serene cities and wondered why is it so difficult for us to move in places like these and spend our life. Why can't we survive the way these people survive? Why can't we live in such places and breath fresh air every second of our lives, see stunning sunrise and sunsets everyday, enjoy the freshness of flowing river water, walk around the fields and feel the freedom and not worry about traffic and rules or be cluster phobic? Why did we make our lives so complicated and difficult when others could live simple and yet be contended? Why?

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Comments:

is it telepathy? I was having similar thoughts yesterday only? what is the use of having so much money, why do we run after modern physical comforts? the fact is that we in big cities have become so used to this life style that we enjoy the serenity, the peace, the tranquility of the country side for a while only, once the novelty wears off , we again start lusting after our big concrete jungles.I am sure people of these small places would give any thing to trade places with us. after all grass is always greener on the other side.

That's why I said "Lost In Paradise". We are so messed up and our life is so screwed that we can't just see what is best for us. All we care is that glitters and momentary pleasure. Such a short sight we have.

Though we know that we are missing something very important and following something very trivial....but the fact is we will never give up and will NEVER learn. This stupid competition to have a "luxurious life" ....to flaunt on social websites ....and over and above satisfy our urge to be one-up from another ....is just taking us away from the real meaning of LIFE. You know what appu ...you and me are also victim to this....but we will never learn....

ve thot abt it a thousand tym..bt den no answer..coz all priorities of lyf changed...morova now people dnt value relation rather those which money buy 4 em... this is also true no matter what the urge of havin mor increases n just increases

Wow, very interesting. I spent the first 21 years of my life in a place like you describe in the country side. I couldn't wait to move to a big city, experience the glitz and glamour, fast paced life, indulgence, hedonism... all that. When I'd go home to visit my parents, it used to take me a day to relax and settle in. I was so wound up from city life, and the pace in the country was so slow. Of course, I gave it all up and came to India -- Mumbai-- where there's just as much if not more pressure to compete. But I have a completely different mindset now and live life in my own way. I think what has changed for me is that I have found my passion in life and that's what fulfills me. Not much else really matters -- definitely not acquiring possessions and flaunting them. When I think of kids and bringing them up, I definitely don't imagine it will be in a big city. I want them to have that same simple country upbringing that I did. :-) And yes, I'd happily live back there -- full circle!

@Anonymous - Controlling the urges and unwanted desires is the main challenge and once that can be accomplished, I think, we can find contentment in life no matter where we live, what we have, what we do, etc. etc.

@Sharell - Thankfully I have also seen all sorts of life styles country, mid town, metros, etc. and so I am familiar with the environments. It was long after I went back to such a small town and I felt my soul screaming and asking why. And I know very soon, I will be lost again in the daily mundane life :( and one day out of blue moon I will again have this feeling and question myself Why